Repeater fuse switch



March 15, 1949. c. A. FOX

HEPEATER FUSE swITcH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed. Nov. 9, 1944 m) T M V m CH4ELE5. 40/. F0 x.

March 15,1949. c. A. FOX

R'EPEA'IER FUSE SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed'NovL 9, 1944' t Y E BHANIIN 1 e, u w a: Q 0 I m 4/ u m M "H 41 m w H J7 I a WK 1 m .9 W///?/ Y H 2 5 4 w C a 5 3 3 5d 3 9 a m 0 5 O W q r 5 Z b 6 L Patented Mar. 15, 1949 REPEATER FUSE SWITCH Charles Adin Fox, Oakland Village, Mo., assignor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 9, 1944, Serial No. 562,580

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical switches of the repeater type, and more specifically to repeater switches of the general type disclosed by United States Letters Patent No. 2,217,589, granted on October 8, 1940, the predominant object of the present invention being to provide a repeater switch of the type referred to, which is particularly well adapted for use with circuits carrying high voltages, up to 69,900 volts, for instance, and which, because of its improved construction and arrangement, is mechanically simple, compact and light in weight.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved repeater switch.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the improved repeater switch as same is illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View of the upper part of the improved repeater switch, illustrating the upper insulator, the upper terminal, and the upper contacts of the switch.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the lower portion of the improved repeater switch, illustrating the main lower insulator, the cross insulator and its associated terminals, and the lower contacts of the switch.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View, partly in ele-.

vation and partly in section, of a lower contact of the switch and a part of the current path-transfer means of the switch.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for purposes of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved repeater switch generally. The switch A includes a base member I which may be of any suitable construction, the particular base member illustrated in the drawings being in the form of a length oi channel bar. In the operative position of the switch A the base member I preferably is disposed vertically and is secured to a support by which the switch is supported.

Secured to the base member I is a pair of vertically spaced insulators 2 and 3, attachment of said insulators to said base member being accomplished through the use of bolts 4 which extend through elongated openings formed through a wall of the base member I and engage the insulators. The upper insulator 2 has fixed thereto at its outer end, by means of bolts 5, a terminal E1, said terminal including a substantially circular base plate 6a which contacts with the outer face of the cap 2 of the insulator 2 and through openings of which the bolts 5 extend. Extended upwardly from the top portion of the base plate 8a of the insulator 6 is an elongated eye '1, on a leg of which a suitable connector 8 is mounted, said connector serving to mechanically and electrically connect an incoming electrical conductor (not shown) to the terminal 6.

Formed integral with the base plate Ea of the terminal 2, and extended forwardly therefrom, is a term nal portion 9, said terminal portion 9 comprising a forwardly and downwardly inclined wall which is provided with suitable strengthening ribs. Formed integral with the terminal portion 9 at its outer end is a horizontally disposed, elongated member IU of angular, cross-sectional shape, said member l0 comprising a fiat, horizontal top wall, a short, downwardly extended forward wall, and a longer downwardly extended rear Wall, and said member ID being provided with suitable strengthening ribs.

The member ID is of such length that its opposite end portions extend outwardly beyond opposite sides of the base plate of the terminal 6, and supported by these outwardly extended end portions of said member I9 is a pair of contacts i l and I2. The contacts H and I2 are of like construction and arrangement, each comprising a length of heavy wire, or rod material, bent double so as to provide a loop at the rear end of the contact through which the shank of a bolt I3 is extended for securing the contact to the member lie, the bolt shank being extended also through opening formed through the top wall of said member Ill. Extended forwardly from the rear loop of each of the contacts ll and I2 is a pair of substantially parallel contact portions which are embraced by a sleeve I4 in order that said portions may be maintained in their proper relative positions. Forward, integral continuations of said substantially parallel contact portions extend forwardly and downwardly, and at the outer end of each of the contacts I I and I2 said forward continuations are bent rearwardly to provide each contact with a pair of crotch-like fuse link-gripping portions I5. The rear portions of the rearwardly bent parts of the contact continuations are extended rearwardly and outwardly, and are provided with knobs It at their ends, and at extreme outer ends of the contacts II and i2 caps I! are applied thereto so as to limit outward movement of the rearwardly bent contact portions and thereby prevent undue spreading thereof.

Supported by the lower insulator 3 is a cross insulator [8 which extends transversely with respect to the insulator 3, said cross insulator being disposed slightly in advance of the forward end of the insulator 3 with its major axis extended horizontally at an approximate right angle relative to the major axis of the insulator 3. Attachment of the cross insulator It to the insulator is provided by a pair of related arcuate hands it) which embrace a central portion of the cross insulator and are provided with outstanding flanges Eda, long bolts 20 being extended through openings formed through the flanges of the arcuate bands, and through tubular spacers 2 l, and being screwed into screwthreaded apertures formed in the cap 3' of the insulator 3.

Secured to the end of the cross insulator at the side of the switch at which the upper contact II is located, is a terminal 22. This terminal is generally of semicircular shape and is arranged in embracing relation with respect to approximately one-half of the end portion of the cross insulator I 8, said terminal 22 being secured to the cross insulator by means of an arcuate bolt which embraces the other half of the end portion'of the cross insulator l3 and which is provided with end portions that extend through openings formed through lugs formed on the terminal '22 and on which end portions of said arcuate bolt nuts are mounted. Formed integrally with the SEl'11iCilcular terminal 22 is an outwardly projected extension 24 from which is extended an elongated eye 25, said eye having a suitable connector mounted on a leg thereof which serves to mechanically and electrically connect an outgci: elec-- trical conductor (not shown) to the ter Ml Supported by the terminal 22 is a lower contact 21 which preferably is formed from a single length of resilient wire, or rod material. The lower contact 27 includes a loop portion 28 which is disposed vertically in contact with the forward face of the extension 24 of the terminal 22, said loop portion being secured to said terminal extension by a bolt 27, the shank of which extends through the contact loop 28 and through an opening formed through the terminal extension 24, said bolt being provided with a head at one end which engages the loop of the contact and a nut at the opposite end. Extended forwardly from the lower portion of the loop 28 of the contact 2'! is a pair of spaced contact portions which merge into a pair of spaced coiled portions 29 of the contact 27, said coiled portions serving to provide the contact 2'! with the required high degree of resiliency in order that said contact may perform its intended function.

The contact 21 includes substantially parallel, spaced apart contact portions 38 which extend forwardly from the lower parts of the coiled portions 29 of said contact and are maintained intheir proper spaced relation by transverse spacing members 3| and SI which are suitably secured thereto. Forwardly of the spacing member 3! convergent extensions of the spaced portions 30 of the contact 21 are provided and these convergent contact portions merge into closely related, forward contact portions which are bent rearwardly upon themselves to provide opposed fuse link gripping portions 32, the rear portions of said rearwardly bent contact portions being bent outwardly, as indicated at and being provided with knobs 33' at their ends. In order to maintain the forwardly extended portions of the contact 2? in their proper related positions a band 36 is arranged in embracing relation with respect to said contact portions at the point where the convergent portions merge into the closely related, forward contact portions. Also, at the forward end of the contact 2? a cap 35 is provided, which embraces the forward parts of the rearwardly bent contact portions so as to prevent undue spreading thereof.

At the end of the cross insulator l8 opposite to the end thereof at which the terminal 22 is located, a terminal 33 is secured to said cross insulator. The terminal 36 is constructed and arranged in accordance with the terminal 22 as has already been described herein; that is to say said terminal 36 is of semicircular shape and it is arranged in embracing relation with approximately one-half of the end portion of the cross insulator, with an arcuate bolt 31 being provided to secure said terminal 36 to the end portion of the cross insulator E8. The terminal 33 is pro-- vided with an integral extension 38 which is similar to the extension 2 of the terminal with the exception that the extension 38 of the terminal 3% does not have associated therewith an elongated eye, as does the extension of the terminal 22. The extension of the terminal supports a contact 39 which is constructed and arranged in accordance with the contact 27 as previously described herein; that is to say, said contact 39 includes a rear loop portion til which is secured by a bolt ii to the extension as of the terminal 36, spaced portions which extend from said loop portion and merge into spaced, coiled contact portions 52, spaced contact portions it that extend forwardly from said coiled portions, convergent contact portions 64 which extend from said spaced contact portions 413 and merge into closely positioned forward contact portions l5, and rearwardly and outwardly bent contact portions at the forward end of the contact which provide said contact with opposed, fuse link gripping portions it. The contact 39 is completed by spacing members il and ill, aband it,

and a cap 59 which serve the same functions as those performed by the spacing members 3! and 3 I the band 34, and the cap 35, of the contact 27, as previously explained herein.

The terminal 36 has associated therewith an arm 56 which is preferably formed integral therewith and extends downwardly therefrom. At its lower end the arm 50 is provided with a partial socket that receives an end portion of a rod 5!,

' said lower portion of said arm till having associated therewith a clampin plate 52 that provides the remainder of the socket and which is secured to the arm by suitable fastening devices 52'. clamp the rod iii to the arm 59, and said rod is so shaped that its opposite end portions are ofiset from each other in a vertical direction, the end portion of said rod which is attached to the arm till being in a higher vertical plane than is the opposite end portion thereof.

Fixed to the end portion of therod iii opposite to the end portion thereof that is attached to the arm 58 is a plate 53 which is tapered slightly from end to end, the narrower portion being at the upper end of the plate and said plate increasing in width slightly as the opposite, or lower end of the plate is approached. The plate 53 is suitably secured to a split block 54 which is provided with a socket that receives the end portion of the rod 5| by which the plate is supported, there being a pair of screws 54' which extend through openings formed through the plate and are disposed in openings formed in opposed parts of the split block, for drawing the split clamp ing block into clamping engagement with the end portion of the rod 5! so as to fixedly secure the plate to the end portion of the rod. The plate 53 is alined precisely with the center line of the contact 27, said plate having a pointed upper end The clamping plate 52 serves to rigidly portion and being provided along its opposite side edges with spaced notches 55.

When the improved switch is in a completely fused condition a pair of fuse links F and Fa are associated therewith, the fuse link F being connected at its opposite ends to the contacts I I and 21 and bridging the space therebetween, and the fuse link Fa being connected at its opposite ends to the contacts l2 and 39 and bridging the space between said contacts l2 and 39. The fuse links F and Fa preferably, though not necessarily, are constructed in accordance with the fuse link disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,304,250, issued December 8, 1942, said fuse link each comprising a pair of flexible conductors 55 which are joined by a fusible section which is enclosed by a tube 51 formed of fiber, or other suitable electrical insulating material. At the outer ends of the flexible conductors 55 eyes 58 and 59 are provided which are adapted to receive tools employed in applying the fuse links to the contacts of the switch.

In applying the fuse links to the switch, the lower flexible conductors 56 of the fuse links are drawn into fuse link gripping portions of the lower contacts 21 and 39, with the aid of a suitable insulated fuse stick. With the fuse stick in engagement with the upper eyes 59 of the fuse links said fuse links are elevated sufiiciently to permit the upper flexible conductors 56 of the fuse links to be drawn into fuse link gripping portions of the upper contacts I I and 12. By so elevating the fuse links the outer portions of the lower contacts 2'! and 39, to which the fuse links are attached, are moved upwardly and as a result the coiled portions 29 and 42 of the lower contacts 21 and 39 are tensioned so that force is stored up in said coiled portions which tends to move the outer end portions of the contacts 21 and 39 downwardly, Thus, the fuse links F and Fa are supported under tension by the contacts H and 21 and I2 and 39, and the contact 27 is maintained by the fuse link F in such elevated position that a substantial gap 60 is provided between said contact and the plate 53 of the transfer mechanism of which said plate forms a part.

The switch A includes, also, a disconnect blade 6| which is formed of a length of wire which is secured at one end thereof to the extension 24 of the terminal 22, said length of wire having a loop formed at its attached end through which the bolt 21' extends for attaching the disconnect blade to the terminal extension. Adjacent to its attached end the disconnect blade 51 has formed therein a coiled portion 62, and projected from this coiled portion is an extension 63 that is provided with a hook-shaped portion 64 at its outer end which is adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool. The end portion of the rod 5! of the transfer mechanism at which the blade 53 is located, is provided with an annular groove 6'5, and the disconnect blade 61 is adapted to be swung to a position where a portion of the extension 63 of said disconnect blade is seated in said annular groove 65 so as to provide an electrical connection directly from the terminal 22 to said rod 5| of the transfer mechanism, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

In its normal use the improved repeater switch A is interposed electrically in the, circuit which it protects, with the fuse links F and Fa connected respectively to the contacts H and 21 and i2 and 39, so that the outer end portions of said contacts 21 and 39 are maintained in elevated positions by said fuse links against the forces stored up in the tensioned coiled portions of said contacts 2'! and 39 which tend to move the outer portions of said contacts downwardly. During such use of the switch current flows from the incoming conductor of the switch to the outgoing conductor of the switch by way of the upper terminal 6, the upper contact H, the fuse link F, the lower contact 21 and the lower terminal 22, to the outgoing conductor of the switch. It is to be noted that during such normal use of the switch no current flows through the contact I2, the fuse link Pa, and the contact 39, because of the presence of the gap 66 which maintains said parts out of electrical connection with the lower terminal 22 and the outgoing conductor connected thereto.

If it be assumed, now, that an electrical fault occurs in the protected circuit which is of sufficient magnitude to rupture the fusible section of the fuse link F, said fuse link will blow and the outer end of the contact 2'! will be relieved of the restraint which had been imposed thereon by the unruptured fuse link F. The released contact 21 will then be snapped downwardly by the force stored up in the tensioned coiled portions of said contact 2'! and the spaced portions 30 of the contact 2'! will engage the opposite side edges of the blade 3 and will move downwardly in contact engagement with respect to said opposite side edges of said blade. As already explained herein, the blade 53 is slightly tapered longitudinally, and its opposite side edges are provided with the spaced notches 55, and therefore the spaced portions 39 of the contact will be spread slightly by their contact with the opposite side edges of the blade 53 and will be tightly gripped by the notched opposite edges of said blade so as to eliminate any tendency for the contact 21 to rebound out of contact with the blade 53.

With the fuse link F ruptured the electrical path between the upper contact I l and the lower contact 2'! is interrupted, and because said contact 2'! is in contact engagement with the blade 53, an electrical path is established through the switch which is provided from the incoming conductor by the upper terminal 6, the upper contact :2, the fuse link Fa, the lower contact 39, the terminal 36, the arm 50, the rod 5|, the blade 53, the portion of the lowered contact 2i extending from the blade 53 to the terminal 22, the terminal 22, and the outgoing conductor connected thereto. Thus, on blowing of the fuse link F, because of an electrical fault in the circuit protected by the switch, the path of the current passing through the switch is quickly transferred to the fuse link Fa and the switch parts with which said fuse link Fa is associated, with the result that there is practically no interruption of the circuit with which the switch is associated.

When the fuse link F has been blown, with a resultant transfer of the current path through.

the switch, as explained above, and it is desired to re-fuse the contacts I l and 2?, the disconnect blade 8! of the switch is moved to a position where a part of the extension 63 thereof is seated in the annular groove 65 of the rod 55. Thus, the disconnect blade iii is constituted a part of the secondary current path through the switch and current no longer passes from the blade to the terminal 22 through a portion of contact 2?. A new fuse F may then be applied to the contacts H and 2?, and said contact 2'? moved out of contact with the blade 53, without in er rupting passage of current through the switch. When the contacts H and 27 have been re-fused the disconnect blade is disengaged from the 7 rod 1 whereupon the normal current path through the switch will be reestablished t rough the new fuse link F and the switch parts with which said new fuse 1ink'is electrically associated.

t is important that the blade 53 of the transfer mechanism of the switch be arranged in proper alinement with contact 21 so that the spaced portions of said contact will properly engage the opposite side edges of said blade when said contact snaps downwardly on blowing of the fuse link F. This may be accomplished by releasing the clamping screws 52' and E i so as to permit adjustment of the rod 5i and the blade 53 after which said clamping screws may be reset to secure said parts in the positions to Which they have been adjusted.

I claim:

1. A repeater fuse switch comprising insulating supporting means, a current entrance terminal supported by said insulating supporting means, contact means supported by and electrically connected to said current entrance terminal, a pair of spaced apart terminals supported by said insulating supporting means and spaced from said current entrance terminal, one of said spaced apart terminals being the current exit terminal of the switch and the other of said spaced terminals being electrically insulated from said current exit terminal, a pair of resilient contacts supported by and electrically connected to said spaced apart terminals, the contact associated with said current exit terminal having spaced portions, a pair of rupturable fuse links connected to the contact means associated with said current entrance terminal and to the contacts associated with said spaced apart terminals and adapted when intact to maintain the outer portions of the latter contacts in elevated positions, and transfer means adapted on rupture of the fuse link which is electrically associated with the contact connected to the current exit terml-- nal of said spaced apart terminals to place the other of said spaced apart terminals in electrical connection with said current exit terminal, said transfer means including a member in the form of a plate having a tapered portion which extends substantially from end to end thereof into such contact engagement with which the contact of said current exit terminal moves on rupture of its fuse link as to cause said member to be extended between and in contact with said spaced portions of said contact.

' 2. A repeater fuse switch comprising insulating supporting means, a current entrance terminal supported by said insulating supporting means, contact means supported by and electrically connected to said current entrance terminal, a pair of spaced apart terminals supported by said insulating supporting means and spaced from said current entrance terminal, one of said spaced apart terminals being the current exit terminal of the switch and the other of said spaced terminals being electrically insulated from said current xit terminal, a pair of resilient contacts supported by and electrically connected to said spaced apart terminals, the contact associated with said current exit terminal having spaced portions, a pair of rupturable fuse links connected to the contact means associated with said current entrance terminal and to the con tacts associated with said spaced apart terminals and adapted when intact to maintain the outer portions of the latter contacts in elevated positions, and transfer means adapted on rupture of the fuse link which is electrically associated with the contact connected to the current exit termi-' nal of said spaced apart terminals to place the other of said spaced apart terminals in electrical connection with said current exit terminal, said transfer means including a member in the form of a plate which is tapered throughout substantially its entire length into such contact engagement with which the contact of said current exit terminal moves on rupture of its fuse link as to cause said member to be extended between and with opposed edges thereof in contact with said spaced portions of said contact, the tapered formation of said member serving to spread the spaced portions of said contact so as to provide gripping action between the opposed edges of said member and said spaced contact portions.

3. A repeater fuse switch comprising insulating supporting means, a current entrance terminal supported by said insulating supporting means,

contact means supported by and electrically con-- nected to said current entrance'terminal, a pair of spaced apart terminals supported by said insulating supporting means and spaced from said current entrance terminal, one of said spaced apart terminals being the current exit terminal of the switch and the other of said spaced terminals being electrically insulated from said current exit terminal, a pair of resilient contacts supported by and electrically connected to said spaced apart terminals, the contact associated with said current exit terminal having spaced portions, a pair of rupturable fuse links connected to the contact means associated with said current entrance terminal and to the contacts associated with said spaced apart terminals and adapted when intact to maintain the outer portions of the latter contacts in elevated positions, and transfer means adapted on rupture of the fuse link which is electrically associated with the contact connected to the current exit terminal of said spaced apart terminals to place the other of said spaced apart terminals in electrical connection with said current exit terminal, said transfer means including a member in the form of a plate into such contact engagement with which the contact of said current exit terminal moves on rupture of its fuse link as to cause said member to be extended between and with opposed edges thereof in contact with said spaced portions of said contact, said member being tapered substantially throughout its entire length and the opposed edge portions of said member with which said spaced portions of the contact of said current exit terminal contact serving to spread said spaced contact portions and being of irregular formation to provide gripping action between said opposed edge portions and said spaced contact portions.

4. A repeater fuse switch comprising insulating supporting means, a current entrance terminal supported by said insulating supporting means, contact means supported by and electrically connected to said current entrance terminal, a pair of spaced apart terminals supported by said insulating supporting means and spaced from said current entrance terminal, one of said spaced apart terminals being the current exit terminal of the switch and the other of said spaced'terminals being electrically insulated from said current exit terminal, a pair of resilient contacts supported by and electrically connected to'said spaced apart terminals, the contact associated with said current exit terminal having spacedportions, a pair of rupturable fuse links connected to the contact means associated with said current entrance terminal and to the contacts asso ciated with said spaced apart terminals and adapted when intact to maintain the outer portions of the latter contacts in elevated positions, and transfer means adapted on rupture of the fuse link which is electrically associated with the contact connected to the current exit terminal of said spaced apart terminals to place the other of said spaced apart terminals in electrical connection with said current exit terminal, said transfer means including a member in the form of a plate into such contact engagement with which the contact of said current exit terminal moves on rupttue of its fuse link as to cause said member to be extended between and in contact with said spaced portions of said contact, said member being tapered substantially throughout its entire length and being provided with opposed notched edges with which said spaced portions of the contact of said current exit terminal contact and by which said spaced contact portions are spread whereby gripping action between said edges of said member and said spaced portions of said contact is provided.

5. A repeater fuse switch comprising a base member, an upper insulator extended outwardly from said base member, a current entrance terminal supported by said upper insulator, contact means supported by and electrically connected to said current entrance terminal, a lower insulator extended outwardly from said base member and spaced from said upper insulator, a cross insulator disposed at an angle with respect to said lower insulator and secured thereto, a pair of terminals supported by said cross insulator in spaced relation, one of said spaced terminals being the current exit terminal of the switch and the other of said spaced terminals being electrically insulated from said current exit terminal by said cross insulator, a pair of resilient contacts supported by and electrically connected to said spaced terminals, a pair of rupturable fuse links connected to the contact means associated with said current entrance terminal and to the contacts associated with said spaced terminals and adapted when intact to maintain the outer portions of the latter contacts in elevated positions, and transfer means adapted on rupture 10 of the fuse link which is electrically associated with the contact connected to the current exit terminal of said spaced terminals to place the other of said spaced terminals in electrical connection with said current exit terminal.

6. A repeater fuse switch comprising a base member, an upper insulator extended outwardly from said base member, a current entrance terminal supported by said upper insulator, contact means supported by and electrically connected to said current entrance terminal, a lower insulator extended outwardly from said base member and spaced from said upper insulator, a cross insulator disposed at an approximate right angle with respect to said lower insulator and secured thereto, a pair of terminals supported by said cross insulator in spaced relation at opposite ends of said cross insulator, one of said spaced terminals being the current exit terminal of the switch and the other of said spaced terminals being electrically insulated from said current exit terminal by said cross insulator, a pair of resilient contacts supported by and electrically connected to said spaced terminals, a pair of rupturable fuse links connected to the contact means associated with said current entrance terminal and to the contacts associated with said spaced terminals and adapted when intact to maintain the outer portions of the latter contacts in elevated positions, and transfer means adapted on rupture of the fuse link which is electrically associated with the contact connected to the current exit terminal of said spaced terminals to place the other of said spaced terminals in electrical connection with said current exit terminal.

CHARLES ADIN FOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,953,392 Carlisle Apr. 3, 1934 2,155,959 Smythe Apr. 25, 1939 2,217,589 Fox Oct. 8, 1940 2,313,771 Rossman Mar. 16, 1943 2,348,029 Smith May 2, 1944 

